Posted: 3/27/02

Air Force Lt. Col. Maki retires after 23 years
Georgia man is a FLHS graduate of 1970

After 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, a Georgia man with ties to Forest Lake has retired from active military service.

Lt. Col. Duane S. Maki, 49, son of Franklin and Ellen Maki of Forest Lake, capped his 23-year military career on Jan. 1, 2002. Maki of Warner Robins, GA, is a 1970 graduate of Forest Lake High School.

During a retirement program last November, Maki was awarded his third meritorious service medal. The program took place in the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins, GA,

The medal is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by either outstanding achievement or meritorious service to their country in non-combat situations.

In retirement life, Maki is employed by Adroit Systems, Inc. as the Technical Services Division staff director. As staff director, he supports more than 90 people who provide supplemental engineering and logistics support to government personnel at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia.

Technical Services Division is the Warner Robins division of Adroit Systems, Inc. which has its headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

Prior to retirement, he served as special assistant to the director of projects and analysis for the contracting directorate at Robins Air Force Base.

As a lieutenant colonel, Maki served as a master navigator with more than 2300 flight hours.

During his military career, he has been decorated with the Defense Meritorious Service medal and two Air Force Commendation medals.

Following his 1970 high school graduation in Forest Lake, he went to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where he earned a bachelorís degree in secondary education in 1976. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force through Officer Training School at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas on Aug. 15, 1978.

After completion of navigator training in 1979, he was a B-52H combat crew navigator at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. He has had subsequent duty with the Strategic Air Command and has completed assignments in California, Iowa, Texas, Massachusetts and Georgia.

In 1985 Maki earned a masterís degree in business administration and management from the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks.

He is married to the former Jane Longendyke, daughter of Donald and Patricia Longendyke of Vadnais Heights. The Makis are the parents of two daughters, Melissa and Michelle.

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